§ Mr. WATTasked whether the Secretary for Scotland's attention has been called to the case of Neil M'Innes, sentenced to six months' imprisonment by Sheriff-Substitute A. T. Glegg, on 5th January, in Glasgow criminal court; whether he is aware that four prisoners were charged with the theft, that two pleaded guilty and that the fourth was found not guilty, that the two who pleaded guilty offered to give evidence exonerating M'Innes of the charge, but that the evidence was refused on the technical point that no notice had been given of their evidence, and that M'Innes had been in steady and well-paid employment in a shipbuilding yard in Govan up to the time of the charge; and whether, in view of these facts and of the want of corroborative evidence of M'Innes being present at the time of the theft, he will reduce the sentence to a shorter period?
Mr. McKINNON WOODI have carefully considered the case referred to, and am satisfied that there are no grounds for my interference.